Apparatus for shaping materials and substances into a round ball



s. M. GIOE Oct. 3,1961

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING MATERIALS AND SUBSTANCES INTO A ROUND BALL Filed Nov; 8, 1965 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

54L VATOfE M 6/06 7 I Arraewzr Oct. 3, 1967 GIOE 3,344,475 APPARATUS FOR SHAPING MATERIALS AND SUBSTANCES Filed Nov. 8, 1965 INTO A ROUND BALL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z; if a 0 v p fp g I ---|l mu INVENTOR.

541 VATOEE M. /05

{ A-AA my United States Patent 3,344,475 APPARATUS FOR SHAPING MATERIALS AND SUBSTANCES lNTO A ROUND BALL Salvatore M. Gioe, 817 Logan St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11208 Filed Nov. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 508,190 Claims. (Cl. 18-16) The present invention relates to apparatus for forming a sphere of moldable material.

The present device may be employed to form plastic masses into spheres. One application is the production of compressed rubber balls.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for receiving moldable material and forming it into a spherical article.

It is an other object to provide the aforementioned type of apparatus that is compact and simple to operate.

Still another object is to provide the aforementioned apparatus that may readily be adapted to automatic production.

An additional object is to provide apparatus for forming a sphere that compresses the moldable material in several different directions.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be point out with particularity and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms an integral part thereof.

In the various figures of the drawing, like reference characters designate like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the present apparatus in the fully open position;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are elevational views illustrating various positions of the components of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the finished product.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, molding apparatus 10 is seen to comprise a hollow, elongated housing 12, having a shaft 14 slidably movable therein. In the embodiment illustrated, the means for moving the shaft is shown to be a rack 16 formed on the shaft and a pinion 18 journaled in brackets 20 secured to the housing. The pinion is rotated by a lever 22 which drives the shaft member either up or down. It is to be understood that the drive means described is for purposes of illustration only without intent to limiting the invention thereto. Other drive means may be employed.

The top end of the shaft is provided with a platform 24 having integral therewith an upwardly facing spherical concave portion 26 that represents a section of the sphere that is to be molded. When using the apparatus, a chunk of the material to be molded, such as plaster, silastic rubber, or paraffin wax, is placed in the spherical seat portion 26. Also mounted on the platform are four spherical segments 28 which are pivotally mounted on pins 29. In the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, the four concave spherical segments plus the spherical section define a sphere.

A .plurality of arms 30 extend outwardly from and at a fixed angle to housing 12. The arms are positioned at 3,344,475 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 'ice the top of the housing and include extension members 32, each having a roller 34 at the end thereof proximate the longitudinal center line of the shaft 14. Spring members 36 extend between a point on the end of the arm 30 and a portion of the sphere segment 28.

The apparatus is operated in the following manner: A mass of material is placed in seat 26 and the shaft, together with the four segments 28 pivotally mounted thereon, is movedupwardly. This causes the fixed position rollers to engage and ride upon a camming surface 38 formed on the outside of each spherical segment 28. The upward movement of the shaft therefore causes each segment to move inwardly about its pivot pin 29 towards the longitudinal axis of shaft 14. At an upward position of the shaft the rollers cause the side edges of the four segments to abut each other. The bottom edge of each segment also abuts the peripheral edge of seat 26 to form a sphere together with seat 26. It is evident, of course, that while four segments and four arms have been illustrated, other quantities may be used; for example, it would be a simple matter to form segments 28 into eight equally sized spherical segments and provide eight arms and associated components to actuate them in the manner described.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the aforementioned closing action. As the segments close, excess material is exuded between the segments and cut-off. It will be seen that the molding material is easily inserted because the segments may be fully retracted. This full retraction also facilitates the removal of the finished product which is illustrated as ball 40 in FIG. 6.

With further reference to FIG. 1, it should be noted that only the two forwardmost arms 30, extension members 32, rollers 34 and spring members 36, have been illustrated. This has been done primarily to provide a clearer understanding of the apparatus. As has previously been described, there are actually four equally spaced assemblies comprising the aforementioned elements, as shown in FIG. 2. Dot and dash lines a and [2 represent the center lines of the arms and extension members, respectively, that have not been completely shown in FIG. 1.

The apparatus described hereinabo-ve and shown in the drawing is inexpensive to manufacture and requires a minimum of maintenance. The apparatus may readily be cleaned because the sphere segments may be retracted to such position where they are widely spaced from each other. The molding pressure is positively and uniformly applied in a radial direction so that an improved article is formed.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming a spherical article, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a movable support member having a concave,

spherical seat portion defined by a circular edge;

(b) a plurality of concave spherical segments pivotally mounted on said support member, said segments each having arcuate edges;

(c) drive means to concurrently move said segments whereby the edges thereof are in abutment with each 3 other and with the circular edge of said seat portion to define a hollow, spherical molding form.

2. The apparatus is accordance with claim 1 wherein said support member is a non-circular shaft and there is included a housing therefor, said housing having a noncircular bore therethrough arranged to guide said support member during movement thereof.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein four segments are provided, the centers of said four segments being spaced 90 from each other.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means to move said segments comprises:

(a) a rack member integral with said support member;

(b) a rotatable pinion arranged to mesh with and linearly displace said rack member;

(c) a cam member integral with each of said segments;

(d) a plurality of roller members fixedly located with respect to said segments whereby movement of said support member causes said cam members to engage References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Smallwood.

Meyer.

Macks 18-42 X Nickerson et al 1836 X Tumey 249-161 X Ford et a1 1842 X Lemelson 1826 Randolph 1836 X J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

J. HOWARD FLINT, 111., Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SPHERICAL ARTICLE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A MOVABLE SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A CONCAVE, SPHERICAL SEAT PORTION DEFINED BY A CIRCULAR EDGE; (B) A PLURALITY OF CONCAVE SPHERICAL SEGMENTS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID SEGMENTS EACH HAVING ARCUATE EDGES; (C) DRIVE MEANS TO CONCURRENTLY MOVE SAID SEGMENTS WHEREBY THE EDGES THEREOF ARE IN ABUTMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE CIRCULAR EDGE OF DAID SEAT PORTION TO DEFINE A HOLLOW, SPHERICAL MOLDING FORM. 